Improvement in alphabetical indexes



UNITED STATES PATENT (OFFICE,

VILLIAM O. HUSTON, OF EAION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND NELSON J. QUINN.

IMPROVEMENT IN ALPHABETICAL INDEXES.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 102,404, dated April 26, 1870.

fo all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM C. HUsToN, of Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Panoramic Index or Register, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention consists in attaching to and ceiling around two cylinders or rollers a sheet of paper having printed upon it, at a sufcient distance apart, the letters oi' the alphabet, under which are ruled parallel horizontal lines for the reception of the names of persons corresponding with the letter above them; and as said rollers are capable of being rotated in either direction, so as to coil the sheet of paper upon one roller and unwind it from the other, or vice versa, any letter of the alphabet, with its corresponding naines, can be exposed to the eye in a moment, thus producing a convenient and portable panoramic index or register, especially adapted for the use of hotel, steamboat, and railroad clerks, the foremen of manufacturing establishments, and book-keepers in general.

Figure l is a perspective view of my panoramic index or register, the door being opened and a portion of it broken away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the operative parts detached.

A represents a suitable case or frame, having hinged to it at a c the door B, which, when the index is not in use, may be maintained in a closed position by vhook O and staple c, or by a spring-catch. Journaled within this case or frame are two cylinders or rollers, D D', whose upper portions are scored at d d', for the reception of an endless cord, E, with which said rollers are rotated in either direction, as may be desired. The cord E, after being coiled around the rollers D Dl in such a manner as to cause them to rotate in the same direction, passes over two small pulleys, F F', in the side of the case, and thence down and around a button, G, which may be adjustable within a rack, H, so as to permit of the proper tension being given to the cord.

Any approved form of curtain or blind ture may be substituted for the devices G- H.

I is a sheet of paper, whose two ends are secured to the rollers D D, and this sheet has printed near its upper margin, in successive order and at a suitable distance apart, the letters of the alphabet, or any other characters which may be desired. Ruled upon said sheet I are longitudinal lines .I and transverse ones K, which inclose spaces for the reception of names corresponding with the letters of the alphabet under which they are written.

In order to prevent the paper being punctured by the pen or pencil when written upon, I secure within the frame a thin board, L, which supports the paper between the rollers D D. rlhe ends ot' the paper may be secured to the rollers by paste, glue, or tacks 5 but I prefer the following` method of attachment: A portion of each roller is sawed away, so as to produce a slab or slat, N, which is preserved, and the ends of the paper clamped between said slat and roller, after which the screws a are inserted, thereby securing the sheet in the most effectual manner, and at the same time permitting of its ready removal whenever it is desired to substitute a new index for the old one.

rIhe rollers D D', instead of being rotated by the endless cord E, may have attached either to their upper or lower ends pinions, which can gear with wheels secured to a shaft projecting through the case, and provided at its outer end with a winch or crank; but the arrangein ent of scored rollers and endless cord is preferred on account of its cheapness, simplicity, and lightness.

A blotter maybe attached to the inner side of door D, so that when said door is closed the blotter will absorb any superiiuous ink from a freshly-written name or account upon. the index.

It will be seen that by simply drawing the cord E in either direction the rollers will be rotated, the sheet I unwound, and any desired letter, with its corresponding names, will be instantly brought before the eye, thereby saving the time usually wasted in turning over a number of pages in the ordinary indexes or registers now in use.

This simple apparatus occupies much less space than an ordinary register, besides being a great deal lighter, and as a new sheet of paper may be added every year, or as often as desired, it will last for in indefinite length of ln testimony of which invention I hereunto time. set my hand.

I elainr 21S my invention- The combination, substuntiallyns described, VILLTAM C. HUSTON. of ease or frznne A B, rollers D D d d, endless oord E, pulleys F F, adjusting devices Witnesses: H, index I J K, and support L, for the object (ino. ll. KNIGHT, stated. ,Turns lll. LAYMAN. 

